Royal rift casts a shadow over the Invictus Games

Waiting for the Duke of Sussex at the athletics track, a deafening roar rises from the stands. But the spectators at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf aren’t watching out for the Duke, they’re cheering on the sick and injured athletes who are giving everything they’ve got.

When the Duke does eventually slip into his seat, he is given a rousing welcome but beyond that, most of the crowd barely gives him a second glance.

He is respected here and his presence is appreciated, but he is not the star of the show. And that is exactly how he likes it.

However, it has not gone unnoticed at the Merkur Spiel-Arena, where there have been empty seats at events, that despite the worthiness of the cause, some supportive voices are missing.

There is frustration among some of the British athletes that their endeavours are not recognised by the public figures who are so quick to send good wishes to those competing in other international sporting events, among them senior members of the Royal family.

One official with the UK team admitted that although Invictus was getting bigger every year, it was felt there could be more support back home, particularly when there had been a notable focus on sport among the Royal family in the past week.

A team insider said: “The athletes find it bizarre but don’t want to get caught up in the royal crossfire.”

In recent days, as well as attending separate Rugby World Cup matches in France, the Prince and Princess of Wales took part in Mike Tindall’s podcast, The Good, the Bad and the Rugby, alongside the Princess Royal.

The Prince and Princess were integrally involved in the early success of the Invictus Games, with their Royal Foundation – then shared with the Duke – pumping significant injections of cash into the event. 

At the time, a courtier was quoted as saying: “Prince William and Catherine always supported Harry’s efforts to establish Invictus. They are delighted that it has been a success.”

In 2014, the then Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William all joined Prince Harry at the opening ceremony in London.

But a lot has changed since then.

A UK media strategist, who did not want to be identified, told The Telegraph that the palace approach towards the Sussexes could be summed up as “ignore and distract”.

He added: “It’s ironic Buckingham Palace has had more to say about the Highland Games than the Invictus Games, despite the honorary military roles they hold.

“In doing so, the palace ends up looking mean-spirited and petty. The ill will against Harry should not be held against the Invictus competitors.”

Invictus has grown into a hugely successful global event involving 22 countries and more than 500 athletes. The 59-strong Team UK is one of the largest teams competing this week and has already notched up several medals.

The Royal family has not commented publicly on the event for a number of years, so their silence this week is not an exception.

But Ben McBean, a double amputee who inspired the Duke to launch the event, said they should have put their differences aside.

The former Royal Marine, who lost an arm and a leg in Afghanistan, said he saw “both sides” of the rift between the brothers. But he added: “Saying that, they should have just given the lads a shout-out. It’s like when we went to Afghanistan, no one supported the war, but they supported the troops. It’s the same thing.”

Palace sources insist members of the Royal family never involve themselves in each other’s professional endeavours. They would not expect the Duke to put his head above the parapet to voice support for the finalists of his brother’s Earthshot Prize, for example, and have left Invictus to the Duke for many years now.

But if the Royal family is watching the events in Dusseldorf, they would see the Duke in his element.

Gone is the hard, surly face that has become all too familiar in recent months and years. In its place is a genuinely relaxed, beaming man who clearly feels very much at home.

Posing for endless selfies, joshing with the steady stream of children who come over to say hello, swapping badges and high fives – this is the Prince Harry of old. He is animated and engaged, he claps along with the crowd and joins in with rowdy versions of Sweet Caroline.

“Hey, Harry; would you like a beer mate?” bellows one spectator passing with several pints in his hand. “No, I’ll have one later,” he laughs.

Indeed he is often seen laughing, in the company of his mates, military veterans who are now part of the Invictus family; David Wiseman, JJ Chalmers, Josh Boggi. These men go way back, their shared experiences creating a bond money couldn’t buy. 

With the Duchess’s arrival in the stadium on Wednesday came even louder cheers.

Dressed in a loose J. Crew cardigan and Staud shorts, she appeared delighted to be in on the action, pumping both fists in the air on spotting the Nigerian team seated behind her, joining in with the arm swaying, the clapping.

However, she is not quite yet in her comfort zone like her husband. She claps enthusiastically and hands out medals with a megawatt smile but is not quite so relaxed.

Aides – acutely aware of the focus on the cost of her wardrobe – are at pains to point out how much of her closing is “vintage” or being re-worn. They also note that she is not travelling with a make-up artist or hairdresser.

Hovering around on the sidelines is a coterie of vigilant aides. A four-strong US-based Archewell team, led by communications chief Ashley Hansen, is working alongside Clara Loughran and Beth Herlihy, both of whom worked for the Sussexes at Buckingham Palace, and who are often drafted back into the fold when the couple are on manoeuvres.

Former US presidential bodyguard Chris Sanchez, who leads the Sussexes’ security operation, has been at the Duke’s side since he left California last week, while former Met Police officer David Langdown, known as “Langers”, is also never more than a few feet away.

Team Sussex gathers together each evening for a debrief and to unwind.

Much of the work is done behind the scenes. On Saturday, the Duke joined Team UK for breakfast at the British consulate.

“Just a super sound bloke, thanking us for all the work we’re doing with the competitors,” explained the team’s head coach, George Bates.

“We love him here,” said British athlete Rich Waldrom, 47. “You’ll never get a bad word out of any of us for Harry. Look what he’s built. Look what he’s created for us all.”

The Duke also meets hundreds of competitors away from the public gaze and holds meetings with officials about everything from future participation of other nations to funding.

The Invictus Games is Harry’s baby – the one big project that originated in his former life as a working royal that he has sustained. He is desperate to highlight the achievements of these injured servicemen and women, all of whom have overcome astounding odds to represent their countries.

The rowdy crowd that has flown to Germany from all corners of the globe to support the serving soldiers and military veterans who are pushing their broken bodies to the limits has drawn the Sussexes into its warm embrace with open arms.

Military types know how to throw a party and the Invictus Games is one noisy celebration of human spirit, of triumph above all odds. The music is deafening, there are flags brandished everywhere and hundreds of people sporting their national colours, laughing and dancing in the stands.

The Duke and Duchess are the undisputed figureheads of this event. But no one is under any illusion about who the real heroes are.

Perhaps reflecting this, the Sussexes’ appearances are not regimented, not planned down to the last second like a traditional royal engagement.

“He might just pop out, you can never be sure with him,” one aide said.

“He absolutely loves watching all of the sports, he loves it and wants to see as much as possible.”

Many will be hoping that the old Prince Harry is here to stay. 

But whether that will translate into a sea change in royal relations remains to be seen.

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